Clinical Oral Investigations, cilt.27, sa.3, ss.1159-1166, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) are chronic inflammatory diseases and anti-inflammatory agents are used in their treatment. This study evaluates the periodontal status and cytokine response in pediatric patients with FMF or sJIA. Materials and methods: Forty-eight FMF/sJIA patients were under treatment/control and in attack-free period; 20 systemically healthy children participated in the study. FMF/sJIA patients were divided into two subgroups based on the treatment they received: receiving anti-IL-1 therapy (anti-IL-1 (+)) and not receiving anti-IL-1 therapy (anti-IL-1 (−)). The clinical periodontal indices were recorded. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum samples were collected. Cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IL-33) in GCF and serum were measured using ELISA kits. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of GCF IL-1β and IL-1α levels although, BoP and GI were significantly lower in the anti-IL-1 (+) group compared to the control group. GCF IL-10 level was higher in the anti-IL-1 (−) group than in the control group; GCF IL-8 levels were lower in both FMF/sJIA subgroups versus controls. There was no significant difference between serum cytokine levels of FMF/sJIA subgroups. Conclusions: Considering the significant decrease in GI, BoP, and GCF IL-8 levels in the anti-IL-1 (+) group, it can be concluded that anti-IL-1 medications may suppress periodontal inflammation clinically and immunologically. Clinical relevance: Anti-IL agents are not currently used in periodontal therapy. However, this study demonstrated the positive effect of anti-IL-1 medications on periodontal inflammation in pediatric patients with FMF or sJIA.